Machine for recording telephone-calls.



H. FASGHER.

MACHINE FOR RECORDING TELEPHONE CALLS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24, 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented Mar. 16, 1909.

H. FASCHER. MACHINE FOR RECORDING TELEPHONE CALLS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24, 1906.

Patented Mar. 16, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

IIHIIIIM z/enior:

H. PASCHER. MACHINE FOR RECORDING TELEPHONE CALLS.

APPLI GATION FILED JULY 24, 1906.

Patented Mar. 16, 1909.

lflziizeadem '31? MLA.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

MACHINE FOR RECORDING TELEPHONE-CALLS.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, HERMANN FASOHER, a

citizen of the United States, residing in San Diego, county of San Diego, and State of California, have invented a new and useful Machine for Recording Tele hone Calls, of which the following is aspeci cation.

My invention is intended to enable any subscriber of a telephone system to record his number on the receiving instrument of any other subscriber of the system bv merely pushing a button, so that the called subscriber on his return may see at a glance, who called for him during his absence.

- The invention consists of two main parts; the transmitter and the receiver,which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 representing the transmitter and Fig. 2 the receiver in side elevation, Fig. 3 the relative positions of the letterand number-disks or typedisks and their counting levers and stops with regard to the automatic cut-out. Fig. 4 represents a front elevation of the receiver, showing the window through which the tape having the subscribers numbers printed on it,.may be seen, also the belt or cord by means of which the tape- 001 is turned after each number is printe. Fig. 5 shows the manner of connecting the main central batteries with the receiver bars of all the subscribers in general and with the line wires of the communicating subscribers in particular. Fig. 6 shows structure of lifter shoe and inclined lifter toe. Figs. 7 and 8 show the different positions of parts of the releasing mechanism of the automatic power a-ecunnilating device, also in Fig. 7 the position of coiled spiral motor spring and its hub, its case having been removed for the purpose. Fig. 9 shows details of construction and manner of fastening pa per-tape-and inkribbon-spools upon their respective shafts. Fig. 10 shows manner of insulating all the contact points from wheel #5 andFig. 11 the same in horizontal elevation.

In Fig. 1 #1 represents the push button, which, on being ushed down as far as it will 0, thereby win s up the spring #3 and also orces down the sectional rack or gear #2, the teeth of which fit; into and cause one complete revolution of the pinion #72 marked in dotted lines, as it is invisible throu h the hub of the wheel #5. This inion #7 2 is fastened rigidly to the shaft 3, to which is also fastened immovably the collar #74. This Specification of Letters Patent. 7

Application filed. July 24, 1906. Serial No. 827,563.

Patented March 16, 1909.

l collar has a sin le projecting tooth, which engages the paw or click #75. The click #75 is fastened to the wheel #5, which also fits upon the shaft #73 but is not fastened thereto, but merely held in lace by the collar #7 4, and may be revolved around the shaft in one direction only, it being estopped from moving collar #74. To the u per visible surface of the wheel #5 a disk of liard rubber, vulcanite or other poor conductor of electricity has been riveted. This disk covers almost the entire surface of the wheel u to and within a short distance of the cogs, ldaving sufficient room operate freely. The rivets #6, etc. used for fastening the rubber disk should be of good conducting material, such as copper with platinum heads on top. These latinum leads should also project slightly a ovethe surface of the rubber disk, so that they canpassing under a stationary contact maker or rush, such as is shown at gl'tlti. The rivets are all placed at auniform distance from the center of the wheel; so that the contact brush will touch them all. Their distance apart from each other depends on the number of contacts to be made in each case and does therefore vary. There is another series of contact points at #7, 7, 7, 7, 7 all .of which are connected with a common, flat surface ring #8. This second set of contact points or arms are also riveted or otherwise fastened all possible electrical contact with the first series or its connections. A special contact brush presses continually upon the ring #8, while another makes contact with the points #7, etc. and a fourth #14 presses cor. tinually against the under surface of the wheel #5 just under the line of rivets, or if preferred a second contact ring may be provided of good conducting material against which (#8 F ig. 10) the brush #14 shall press, and which must be in direct connection with all the contact pointed the brush #15. The rivets on the under side of the wheel are filed flush and smooth-With the surface, so that good electrical contact shall be maintained with the brush-#14 throughout the com lete revolution of the wheel Preferably oth series of contact points should be insulated from the wheel #5 as well as from each other 2 ing the contact points are first riveted to the in the opposite direction by the tooth of the to permit the pinion of the wheel #18 to not f ailto make good electrical contact when immovably to the rubber disk but out of as shown in Fig. 10, in which the rings carryinsulating material #4 and this then is riveted from touching the ring 8 between contacts.

The ring 8, its contact points and rejections by which it is riveted to the insu ating disk #4 are punched integrally out of one piece of metal, likethe cogs on a gear wheel, exce t that the contact points are turned u at rig t angles to the surface of ring 8, su cient to cause them to project above the surface of the supplementary insulating ring #90 whichis riveted to the upper surface of the ring 8 as shown in Fig. 11 A spring #11 fastened to the support #13 prevents the wheel #5 from going backward on pressing the button, while a swinging lever stop #10, being ordinarily pushed down by spring #12, prevents the wheel from going too far at the end of every revolution, by striking against the stationary pin #9, fastened to the rubber disk #4. #19 represents a governor or controlling fan, which regulates the speed of the "wheel #5, through intermediate gear #18.

In Fig. 2, we have at #20 a number of type disks or Wheels. Their number may vary according to the number of subscribers in the system. There'is one disk for the letters of the alphabet, or as many of such letters as are needed, and three, four or more disks for numerals from 1 to 0 on each. In the draw ing the disks are represented of such size, so that the numerals will occupy one half of the periphery ofthe disk, while the other half is left blank, the blank space is grooved to allow a. cord #64 to play in it, which is fastened to the lower part of the disk at the junction of the numeral Olwith the blank space, and the pulling of these cords, by means of springs #63 to which their other ends are fastened, keep the disks in such a position when not used, so as to bring that portion of the blank space which adjoins the figure or type 1 directly under the blow of the hammer #36 so that normally all the disks shall expose a blank space to the action of the hammer. The letter disk may be an exception, in that its entire periphery, (except a short blank space under the hammer) is-oecupied by letter-types if so desired, and there being therefore no blank space for the cord, a special pulley, fastened to said letter disk has been provided at #23 Fig. 3. A similar pulley may be also attached to the type-disk which carries the last type of a row of ty e, as shown in drawing at 23 so as: to equa ize the pressure of the spring 63 on the lifter-lever 53 connected therewith. On one side of each disk #20 is fastened concentrically a ratchet wheel #76 as shown in dotted lines, they 'bein on the opposite and invisible side of dis is #20. The teeth of these ratchet wheels correspond in their number and relative distances from each other to the 65 number and relative distances from each alphabet would give nearly 200,000 different numbers. Additional type wheels may be added. A set of counting levers #21, 21, 21, 21, 21, are arranged in a row behind the type disks upon a single shaft and journaled in frame #40, which, being fastened to the lever #41 is operated by the magnets #42. An automatic cut-out has been devised at #24. This consists of a cylinder #24, carrying as many rollers as there are disks to operate, and which is fastened to a rotatable shaft journaled in the main frame. Each roller #27 operates and cuts out or in only one s eeial counting lever. These rollers are distributed around the cylinder in a spiral, so that when there are five disks and counters, one fifth of a revolution of the cylinder #24 shall press one of the rollers against its respective counter lever which thereby enables said lever to engage the ratchet wheel #76, while all the other levers are held back and out of reach of said ratchet teeth by the springs #65'a11d lean against the smooth surface of the cylinder #24. And as the automatic cut-out revolves one-fifth of a revolution at a time, another roller will come around to the Working line and another lever come forward to count on the next disk. Every time the magnet-draws the lever #41 up, one of the counting levers, by

I means of its spring pawl #22 engages a tooth in its respective ratchet wheel and pushes the same around one notch. When the lever is at its highest point, one of a set ofautomatic stops #28 operated by springs #29 and stops #30 drops down behind the raised tooth andholds it there.

It will be seen that whenever the cylinder #24 turns one notch, the roller which counted last will be turned up against the stop #28, which held the ratchet in place, forcing it up out of the ratchet altogethe thus releasing the spring #63 and cord #64, pulling the disk back to its orignial position and exposing a blank to the hammer. This however only takes place, after the hammer has'struck its blow on the type disk and thereby printed the number on the, paper tape #7'Othrough the ink ribbon #61. Ever time the hammer strikes, the pawl #32, whic engages the five toothed ratchet #31, takes hold of another tooth through connecting levers #33, 34, 35, andon its upward swing turns the ratchet #31, which is fastened to the same shaft as the cylinder #24, which more than one stop co at a time.

thereby is also turned one fifth of a revolution. The hammer #36 is held back in its normal ino rative position by 3 ring #37, and forced db wn upon the ty disl s by lever #38 and the magnet #39. he cylinder #4 is also provided with five smooth facets #25 Fig. 3; or as many as there are rollers #27, and disks #20. And these facets are situated so, that whenever the lever #36 has completed its upward stroke, and another roller has on ged its counting lever, the spring #26 s ail press against one of vthe facets with sufficient force to hold the cylindcr steady, and revent its turning while the counting lever oes its work.

To the pulley #23 of the nearest type disk, which furnishes the last figure to be printed,

is fastened a lever #53, carrying a lifter shoe #52, held by spring #56 against thesto 54. After the last fi ure has been printe and the stop #28 has heen lifted, the spring #63 and cord #64 running over pulley #23 bring the lever or leg #53 and its shoe #52 around to the stop #51. But before this point is reached, the toe of the shoe #52 strikes against the roller pin fastened to one arm of the stop-anchor-lever #49. The slanting surface actin against the roller pin #50 causes it to be li ted up sufficiently to enable the projecting stop cog #85 on the wheel #48 to slip past under it. But as soon as this has been accomplished, the roller pin #50 sli s over the corner of the toe 1p, and ai ed by a spring as shown and also aided by the neighboring stop cog #85 of the wheel #48 acting upon the other end of the anchor lever, the forward point of the latter, carrying the roller #50 is forced back upon the intervening surface of the wheel #48 and ready to engage the next projecting stop cog #85, thus making it impossibie topass In its backward movement, w on the next figure is to be counted off by the same disk, the toe lip #55 slips over the upper surface of the roller pm, thus exerting, by means of the spring #56 an additiona' downward pressure upon the anchor-lever,'while the length of the toe lip #55 and the position of the stop #51 are such that the former may be drawn back without touching said stop.

The Wheel #48 is forced around as described by a suitable coiled spring #81 con-' tained in a suitable case #45, having at its outer periphery very fine ratchet teeth. These teeth may be so fine that ten or more shall be required'to occup T a space equal to that between any two a joining stop cogs As the magnet #42, through connecting levers #41, 40, 44, 43 and pawls 46 and 47 are expected to wind up the coiled spring one notch with every stroke of the lever #41, while the counting is going on, the smaller the teeth on the spring case, the lighter the load which the magnet will have to pull.

And as there may be as many as 36 counts without counting any letters, we may take ten to fifteen as a fair average in the long run. 'VVhatever number of teeth which intervene between any two neighboring stop cogs #85, will be the number unwound every time the wheel 48 slips around from notch to notch, and if the average is lower than that number, the spring will ultimately run down, if it is higher, it will wind the spring up tighter and tighter. For this reason the spring is fastened only at the center to a hub #82 fastened to the wheel #48, while its outer end is left loose, but which exerts sufficient pressure upon the sides of the spring case to enable it to do its work with case. So that when the spring becomes overwound, it simply sli s around in its case, but still retains enoug tension to do its work. To the farther end of the shaft to which the wheel #48 is fastened, is a pulley #77 carryin' a belt or cord or endless sprocket chain whic h also engages a corresponding pulley on the shaft which carries the spool #58 on which the tape of paper #70 is wound as fast as it is printed fall after having passed the window #69. #68 is a belt tightener to prevent slppin- The paper tape is originally woun on spool 59 from whence it is drawn around t e roller #71 which holds it down close to the ty e disks, and thence to the spool #58. Un rneath the paper tape is stretched an ink ribbon #61 carried on spool #60, drawn around over the type disks and wound up on a comparatively sin-all spool #62 fastened to the shaft carrying the Wheel #48. So that when the paper tape travels a distance equal to the space from notch to notch on wheel #48, the ink ribbon only travels a small portion of such distance. Both the spools #59 and are held at an easy tension by tension springs #66 and 67. These spools #59 and 60 may be placed as shown or in an other convenient position, which will ena la the spools #58 and 62 to draw the paper tape and ink ribbon n close proximity to the selected ty' es where the hammer is to strike.

The w ole mechanism maybe operated by two batteries, one for each magnet, located at the central station, and connections with the air line be so made through the central switch board, that one subscriber shall have one le of each battery, one on each of his wires, while the other subscriber shall have the other two poles of the batteries one on each of his wires, as shown in Fig. 5. One line wire is connected with the contact brush #15 and the other with #16. #14 and #17 are grounded. One of the coil terminals of each magnet is also grounded. The other terminals are connected with the line wires. But all the line connections must be made through the telephone receiver bars as shown in Fig. 5, so

&

brush 16 of the first subscriber shall be connected with magnet 39 of the other, both batteries to be of equal stren th. When therefore one subscriber has ta en the receiver off its hook and contact is made between brushes 14 and 15, then the current from one battery will pass into the ground,

and the opposite pole of the battery being connected with magnet 42 of the other subscriber and also with the ground this magnet will respond to the impulse. WVhen contact is made between brushes 16 and 17, the second battery will operate magnet 39 of the other subscriber.

The operation of the system is as follows: A subscriber, after having been put in connection with another as shown in Fig. ,5, and 30 not getting any response, ushesthe button #1 down until the chck of tlie pawl #75 on the tooth of the ratchet or collar #74 tells him that it has engaged the wheel #5, otherwise the button will be immediately pushed back by the spring #3 without doing any work. Wheel #5 begins to turn and the first contact point #6 under the brush 15=will make contact with strip #14 and the battery current will run to the ground. The same battery being connected with magnet 42 of the other subscriber one terminal of which is also grounded, this magnet will respond and pull up its armature #41. This lever then performs two operations simultaneously. The automatic cut-out being set so that the first counter lever which controlsthe letter disk is pressed forward to engage its ratchet, the letter disk will be turned around one letter for each impulse or for each contactpoint #6 on thewheel #5, which in this case is only one. The letter A, or any other letter chosen as the first, is thereforeunder the hammer. While turning the letter disk, the magnet lever also raises the lever #43 and by means of pawl 46 also the spring case #45 suflicient to enable pawl #47 to catch the next tooth and hold it, thus tightening the sprin one notch.

The next impulse is received t rough the brush 16 coming in contact With point #7 passin under it which is. attached to ring #8 on wh1ch,brush 17 is pressing, and thus the current from the other battery will ass to the ground. The other pole of this attery being connected with ma iet #39 of the other subscriber, it will pul up its armature ready for the next call.

and" cause the hammer to strike the papertape and the letter A will be printed through the intervening ink ribbon on the lower surface of the pa er. In its downward stroke the hammer t rough levers 33, 34, 35 and pawl 32 engages the next tooth of the ratchet '31, and when the hammeris returned to its first number disk. The next "contact point #6 on the wheel 5'comes in contact with brush 15, magnet 42 pulls u its armature and figure 1 appears under t e hammer. A second contact point #6 makes connection and figure 2' a pears. The next contact is established wit brush 16 and 17 and magnet 39 pulls up its armature. Figure 2 is printed on the'paper and the automatic c'ut-out'releases spring 63 and thefirst number disk returns to-its original inoperative position, while the next counting lever is pressed forward. There being four contact points #6 for brush 15 before another for brush 16 ap ears, this second number disk will be pushe around to figure 4, which is printed on the aper and the next engaged. We now have ii for brush 15. the paper and the next, engaged. We now have seven contact points. Figure 7 will therefore be printed next. This is the last disk used and the number complete will be A2457, the number of the subscriber making the call.

more figures, the le 53 and shoe 52 are also turned away from t eir sto 51, as shown in drawing. After the fi ure as been printed and the spring 63 is re eased, the toe lip 55 lifts the anchor stop 49 by means of roller pin 50, and the coiled spring contained in case #45 having been wound during the o eration of counting 18 notches, slips the w eel #48 around to its next stop cog #85 which by means of belt 57 turns s 001 58 an equal distance, which in turn pu s the paper tape "off its spool and onto spool 58, thus brin ingthe printed number into vview through t e Window 69. inder 62-1noves a trifle and pulls the ink ribbon ve contact points Figure 5-is therefore'printed on I At'the same time the spool or cyl- 28 which held the letter disk in 'When the last number disk is turned one or 61 forward. This completes the operation and the next roller presses forward-the first counting lever which enga es the letter disk, n case alternating currents are to be used, the ma ets will have to be replaced by suitable helices and cores.

If deemed advisable one or more extra contact points may be put into that portion of the type selecting series which-operate the type wheel carrying the lifter shoe 52, so as to give said lifter more swing and enable it to lift the anchor stop 49 more easily. In this case the leg 53 must be fastened to its type wheel at such a place so as to expose as many blank spaces to the action of the printing hammer. before thefigure .1 is reached, as

there are extra contact oints, so that each extra contact point shal count a blank.

I desire to secure by U. S. Letters Patent the following claims:

1. In a telephone call recorder, the combination with the central switch board and line wires, of connections therewith through receiver-switch of subscribers telephone, a call transmitting mechanism and a call recording mechanism, each of said mechan isms being 1 connected with said receiverswitch, and a double source of energy at central for the operation of said call recorder mechanisms.

2. In a telephone call recorder consisting of a transmitting and a recording mechanism, the combination with the central switchboard and line wires, of a double source of energy at central, adapted to be connected with subscribers telephones, to actuate the call transmitting and recording mechanisms attached-thereto.

3. In a telephonecall-recorder, the combination with a double source of energy at central, of line wires, of call transmitting and recording mechanisms located at subscribers telephone, ofa receiver-switch, connections between said line wires and said mechanisms through the receiver switch, the said receiver switch normally connecting the recording mechanism to line when the receiver is hung,-and adapted to disconnect the recording mechanism and connect the transmitting mechanism to the line wires when the receiver is unhooked.

4. In a telephone call recorder, a recording instrument having a counting -mechanism and a printing mechanism, a transmitter instrument having 'a transmitter wheel with two independent series ofcontact points, one series being adapted to actuate the counting mechanism of the recorder, the other series being adapted to operate the printing mechanism.

In a telephone call recorder-transmitter instrument, two independent circuits supplied with energy from central, a transmitter wheel with two independent series of contact points, connected with said circuits, and a push-button and a spring adapted to operate said transmitter wheel. I

6. 'In a telephone call recorder transmitter instrument, two independent circuits supplied with energy from central, a rotatable transmitter wheel with two independent series of contact points connected with said plied with energy from central, a rotatable transmitter wheel with two independent series of contact points, a push button and a spring adapted to operate said wheel, a suitable stop to limit its motion and means connected with said push-button adapted to wind said spring and remove said stop, when push button is depressed.

9. In a telephone call recorder transmitter instrument, a rotatable transmitter wheel having a plurality of contact points, a push button and a spring adapted to operate said wheel, a suitable stop to limit its motion and means connected with said push button adapted to wind said s ring and remove said stop, when said push uttonis depressed. 10. In a telephone call recorder, consisting of a counting mechanism and a printing mechanism, two independent circults supplied with energy from central, two inde pendently actuated electro-magnets connected therewith, one of said magnets being adapted to o erate the counting mechanism, the second eing adapted to operate the printing mechanism. 11. In a telephone call recorder instrument, two independent circuits supplied with energy from central, two independently actuated electro-magnets connected therewith, a lurality of type disks each carrying a pluraity of types, and meansconnected with one of said magnets adapted to move said type disks, and a printing mechanism adapted to be operated by the other magnet.

12. In a telephone call recorder instrument, two independent circuits supplied with energy from central, two independently actuated electro magnets connected therewith, a plurality of type disks, each carrying a plu-.

tuated electro magnets connected therewith, 1

a plurality of type disks with a plurality of types on each, means connected with one of said magnets adapted to move said type disks to operative position for printing, and means adapted to hold said type disks in operative posltion until after printing and a printing mechanism adapted to be operated by the other magnet.

15. In a telephone call recorder instrument, two independent circuits supplied with energy from central, two independently actuated electro magnets connected therewith, a plurality oftype disks with 'a plurality of types on each, and held normally in inoperative position, means connected with one of said magnets adapted to move said type disks to operative position for printing, means adapted to hold said type dis (s in operative posltion until after printing, and also means adapted to return said type disksto inoperative position after printing, and a printing mechanism adapted to be operated y the other magnet.

16. In a telephone call recorder instrument, two independent circuits sup lied with energy from central, two indepen ently actuated electro magnets connected therewith, a plurality of type disks, with a plurality of types on each, a plurality of counting levers operated by one of said magnets, means I adapted to hold said levers in normally inoperative position and means adapted to suecessively move said counting levers to operative position, and cause them to succes-. sively move sald type disks to operative position, and a printing mechanism adapted to be operated by the other magnet.

17. In a telephone call recorder'instrument, a type selecting mechanism and a printin hammer adapted to print from said selecte ty es and a spirally cammed cylinder in mec anical connection with the said printin hammer and operated thereby and adapte to engage said type selecting mechanism.

18. In a telephone call recorder instrument, a type selecting mechanism and a printing mechanism, combined with a spring case and coiled motor sprin which is held in place by its own tensional Friction only and means connected with said type selecting mechanism for automatically tensioning said spring.

'.19. In a telephone call recorder instrument, a type-selecting mechanism and a printing mechanism combined with a spring case-and coiled motor spring, which is held in place by its own tensional friction only and means connected with said type selecting mechanism for automatically tensioning said spring, and'also means for automatically releasing a ortion of said tension when required an further means for releasing surplus tension.

. HERMANN FASCHER. Witnesses:

EMMA FAscHER, ORRIN YV. SMITH, 

